Quick release electrical connector



Jan. 3, 1967 BAG 3,295,868

QUICK RELEASE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed June 5, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A/ J I v 9 INVENTOR FER N AND GEORGES BAC Maia/e ATTORNEYS Jan. 3, 1967 F. G. BAC

QUICK RELEASE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed June 3, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR FERNAND GEOR GES B AC ATTORNEYS United States Patent Gffice Patented Jan. 3, 1967 3,295,868 QUiCK RELEASE ELECTRICAL CGNNECTOR Fenland Georges Rae, 18 Rue du Mont-Cenis, Paris, France Filed .lune 3, 1965, Ser. No. 460,979 Claims priority, application France, Feb. 1, 1962, 886,659 4 Claims. (Cl. 285-27) This is a continuation-in-part of my US. Patent application Serial No. 255,025 filed January 30, 1963, now abandoned.

This invention relates to quick-release, multiple pin electrical connector.

Conventional bayonet and pin connectors, which operate by rotating a barrel, do not permit the two parts to be sufiiciently rapidly uncoupled or disconnected when applying a pulling force along the axis of the connector, as is necessary in the operation of some releasable objects, such as torpedoes, rocket sections, the fuel tanks of aircraft, and such like.

For this reason, the electrical connectors that permit the release of the objects that carry them are of the direct connection type, wherein the pins are inserted into the socket by pushing along the longitudinal axis of the plug and are removed therefrom by simply pulling. Locking means, actuated also by the pulling, can be added to the connector to prevent the untimely release of its two parts. But when the plug has a large number of pins, the force required to insert it becomes prohibitive. Although the use of the bayonet and pin system considerably reduces the force required, thanks to the helical grooves associated therewith which cooperate with the rotational movement required by this kind of connector, it is this very movement that prevents quick uncoupling of the connector, making the bayonet method unusable.

An object of this invention is to obtain an arrangement that permits using the bayonet and stop system, or a similar system, with electrical connectors mounted on releasable objects, and requiring only a single rectilinear uncoupling movement, without concomitant rotation.

The apparatus of the invention relates to a pin and socket type electrical connector, comprising two separable, cylindrical, inter-locking parts, one of which separable parts carries at least one first fixed coupling element and the other of which separable parts has at least one second coupling element carried by a sleeve or a barrel rotatably mounted on the other part but incapable of longitudinal movement with respect to that part.

radially movable in the sleeve; a locking sleeve for said movable elements is slidably mounted on said sleeve and has an internal longitudinal cross section comprising two steps, one of these steps having an internal diameter such that, when it engages the one or more movable coupling elements these latter are pushed inwards to cooperate with the one or more first coupling elements, and the second step having an internal diameter greater than that of the first step, such that when it is aligned with the one or movable coupling elements these latter are released and free to move outwards along radii; and means for pushing the one or more movable coupling elements back to their original position, after the two parts have been separated by a longitudinal pull.

The movable coupling elements can be each a ball or a cylindrical element that can move radially in an aperture in the rotatable sleeve.

Two embodiments of the invention are described here- It is characterized in that the one or more said second coupling elements carried by the said sleeve or barrel are the arrow 1 of FIGURE 1. through a cable or any other desirable means attached to inafter by way of non limitative examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal, sectional view of a connector of the invention according to line AA of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a transverse, sectional view of said connector along line BB of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial, side elevational flattened view on reduced scale of the outer surface of one part of the connector, having bayonet grooves;

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the manner of operation of the connector of FIGS. 1 through 3;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are views in partial section taken along the axis of another embodiment of the locking parts respectively showing the locked and disconnected positions of the pins.

FIGURES 1 and 2 show an electrical connector of which the male fitting consists of a sleeve 1, preferably metallic, containing a block 2, made from a material that is electrically insulating, carrying one or more pins 3, whose number varies according to the intended use of the connector, said number being seven in the embodiment shown. The outer surface of sleeve 1 contains helical grooves 4two in the embodiment shown-that constitute the female part of the standard beyonet coupling system (see also FIGURE 3).

The female part of the connector consists of a sleeve 5, preferably metallic, having therein an electrically insulating block 6 containing as many sockets 7 as there are pins 3 in the male fitting.

A barrel 8 fits over the sleeve 5 and is held thereon by an annular band or strap 9 carrying one or more rivets 10 whose shanks engage in an annular groove 11 provided in sleeve 5.

The barrel 8 has a number of openings 12 (two in the embodiment illustrated) of conical cross section for receiving balls 13, without allowing them to pass through, said balls being adapted to cooperate with the respective helical grooves 4 in sleeve 1 when they are caused to protrude on the inner surface of barrel 8 as will be hereinafter described.

The balls 13 are held in the openings 12 of barrel 8 by a sleeve 14- having two steps 14a and 14b. A spring 15 press ng against wall 8a keeps the sleeve in the position shown in FIGURE 1, in which the balls 13 are held in by the first step 14a, which has the smaller diameter.

The diameter of the second step 14b is such that it permits the balls 13 to be completely released from the openings 12 of the barrel when the sleeve 14 is moved with respect to the barrel by pulling'on it in the direction of The pull can be obtained several tie points on the sleeve, whereby the balls can be freed from the openings, and the mechanism thus unlocked.

A longitudinal slot 70 opens at the free end of sleeve 5 and is adapted to receive a corresponding elongated key 71 secured on the inner surface of sleeve 1 along a generatrix thereof. Similarly, a longitudinal groove 72 is provided in the outer surface of sleeve 1, in which may engage an elongated key 73 secured in a recessed part of the outer surface of sleeve 5. The width of slot 70 and key 71 is greater than that of groove 72 and key 73, and the peripheral engagement position of key 71 in slot 79, and of key 73 in groove 72, respectively corresponds to the required engagement position of the pins 3 with the corresponding sockets 7, and of the respective balls 13 with the axial parts 40 of the corresponding grooves 4 (FIGURE 3).

The operation of connector according to the invention is very simple.

It will first be supposed that sleeve 14 is in the position 3 of FIGURE 1 and that the female member 5-6 is not yet connected to the male fitting 12. The balls 13 protrude within barrel 8; the conical section of the openings 12 prevents the escape of the balls 13.

In connecting the male and female members, sleeve 5 is first axially engaged in sleeve 1, the relative angular position of said sleeves being such that key 73 of sleeve 5 engages groove 72 of sleeve 1 and key 71 of sleeve 1 engages slot 70 of sleeve 5, thus preventing any relative rotation between the male and female members as a whole. Said sleeve 5 is further pushed in sleeve 1, balls 13 engage the parts 40 of grooves 4, and pins 3 engage sockets 7. Once balls 13 have reached the end of said parts 4a of grooves 4, barrel 8 is rotated by hand with respect to sleeve 5. Balls 13 engage the helicoidal part of grooves 4 and sleeve 5 with all the members attached thereto is further pushed axially until complete engagement of the two members is obtained.

When quick separation of the two parts of the electrical connector is desired a traction is exerted upon sleeve 14 to bring it to the position of FIGURE 4, in which the balls 13 are freed from the helical grooves 4, thereby permitting sleeve 5 and the parts attached thereto to slide freely in an axial direction and to separate instantaneously from sleeve 1.

For assembling and disassembling the parts of connector according to the invention, when the spring 15 is not in place, it is possible to slide the sleeve 14 until the balls are completely freed, as shown in FIGURE 5.

FIGURES 6 and 7 relate to a modification of the locking means between the male and female part of the connector, in which substantially cylindrical, lever actuated studs are substituted for the balls 13 for cooperation with the helical grooves in the outer sleeve of the male part. In said figures, only the locking means and the control means therefor have been shown. It should be understood that the device is otherwise similar to that of FIG- URES 1-5, including the means for preventing relative rotation of the male and female parts after initial engagement. The outer sleeve for the male fitting is shown at 31 and is thus externally provided with helical grooves 34. The female member has a sleeve 35 with a barrel 38 rotatably mounted thereon and held by a band or strap 39. Barrel 38 has a number of radial openings 42 each housing a stud 46 having an end 46a of reduced diameter, which cooperates with the corresponding groove 34, and a round head 46b.

For every one of the radial openings 42 (which can have, for example, diametrically opposite positions in a similar manner as shown for openings 12 in FIGURE 2), barrel 38 is provided with a longitudinal groove 50 of which the middle plane passes through the axis of the corresponding opening 42. A lever 51, pivoting on a pin 52 inserted in barrel 38 transversely of each groove 50, projects into a diameter groove 460 provided in the corresponding stud 46, under a pin 53 bridging said groove 46c. Said lever 51 has a heel 51a cooperating with the inner edge 54 of an opening provided at the center of a toric cup 55 formed at the end of a sleeve 44 slidably mounted on the outer surface 56 of a ring 57. This latter ring is held on barrel 38 by means of a keeper ring 58. A spring 45, inserted between the front wall 59 of sleeve 44 and ring 57, presses the sleeve towards the studs 46.

A cord 60 is slipped through a hole 61 provided in an ear 62 extending from sleeve 44. Cord 60 may form a loop, for example, the other end thereof being connected in like fashion to a diametrically opposite ear of the sleeve 44.

This embodiment operates in the following manner.

To couple the male and female members, sleeve 35 is slid over sleeve 31, as in the embodiment of FIGURES l-5. The studs 46, which are held locked in the position of FIGURE 8 by the step forming slope of the cup 55 of sleeve 44, are slid along the helical grooves 34 by rotating the barrel 38 until they come to the end of said grooves 34. The male and female members can be separated by reversing the movement.

When it is desired to quickly disconnect the connector by a simple axial movement between the male and female parts, without rotation of the barrel 34, cord 60 is pulled, causing sleeve 44 to move against the force of spring 45. The result of this movement is that the toric cup 55 moves away from the head 46b of the studs 46, leaving the latter free to move axially, and that the edge 54 of the sleeve 44 presses on the heel or foot 51a, causing each of the levers 51 to pivot about its pin 52 and to raise, through pin 53, each of the studs 46 as shown in FIGURE 7. The ends 46a of the studs 46 are thus raised from their corresponding grooves 44, and it is possible to separate the members or the connector by an axial movement by continuing to pull on cord 60. As soon as the cord is released, the sleeve 44, pushed by spring 45, returns to its original position, the levers 51 pivot the other way, the ends 46a of studs 46 once again project inside sleeve 5 and the cup 55 again locks in that position the said studs 46 which are ready for cooperation with the corresponding grooves 34.

What I claim is:

1. In a quick release connection device comprising a first and second separable, cooperating, connecting units, a first and second cylindrical outer tubular member rigidly secured on said first and second units, re spectively, and each having a longitudinal axis, said first tubular member having an outer surface and a projecting free end, at least one helical groove provided in the said outer surface, and opening at said free end of said first tubular member, reciprocally engageable means provided on said first and second tubular members, respectively, for preventing relative rotation about said longitudinal axis of said first and second tubular members when in engaged relationship, a sleeve rotatably mounted and held against axial movement on said second tubular member, said sleeve having a projecting free end having a substantially smooth outer surface, and an inner surface adapted to overlie the projecting free end of the said first tubular member, as many circumferentially arranged radial openings in said projecting free end of said sleeve as there are helical grooves in said first tubular member, a locking member in each of said openings, movable substantially perpendicular to the axis of said second tubular member and adapted to project through said opening in one direction above the inner surface of said sleeve into engagement with the corresponding helical groove, a lever member arranged in said sleeve for each locking member, said lever being rockingly mounted on said sleeve about an axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said second tubular member, for movement in a plane substantially containing said longitudinal axis, and further having one front end portion engaging with an abutting member on said locking member, and a rear end protruding above the outer surface of said sleeve, a locking ring axially slidably mounted on said outer face of said sleeve, resilient "means urging said locking ring toward the free end of said sleeve, said locking ring comprising a first rear section fitting on said outer surface of said sleeve and adapted to cooperate with the rear end of each said lever for rocking said lever about the axis thereof when said locking ring is urged against the action of said resilient means, a second section of such diameter that it may engage over each locking member when moved toward the free end of said sleeve, in a locking position in which said ring causes said locking member to protrude above the inner surface of said sleeve into engagement with the corresponding helical groove, and a third section flaring out from said second section to leave said locking member free to retract through the corresponding opening and disengage from the corresponding helical groove in the said first tubular member, and said first rear section of said locking ring is in cooperative engagement with said rear end of said lever, said sleeve, locking member, and helical groove being so interrelated that upon initial axial engagement of said connecting units said locking member is received within the open end of said helical groove and upon rotation of said sleeve in one direction the locking member moves axially inwardly along said groove drawing said connecting units axially together into the final assembled relationship.

2. A quick release connection device as claimed in claim 1, in which each locking member has a rounded head protruding on the outer surface of the said sleeve and the second section of the locking ring has a corresponding toroidal shape.

3. A quick release connection device as claimed in claim 1, in which each said lever is arranged in a groove provided in the outer surface of the said sleeve and each locking member is cut axially to accommodate the front end of the corresponding lever, the upper surface of the front end portion engaging a transverse pin arranged within said locking member.

4. A quick release connection device as claimed in claim 1, in which means are provided to urge said lock ing ring against the action of said resilient means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 729,479 5/1903 Wittman 285-320 X 793,103 6/1905 Scholtz 285-305 X 2,409,650 10/1946 Wiggins 285-320 X 2,961,630 11/1960 Duncan 285-82 X 3,082,394 4/1963 Hahn 285-315 X 3,165,340 1/1965 Kuehl 285-316 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,188,157 4/1959 France.

CARL W. TOMLIN, Primary Examiner.

D. W. AROLA, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A QUICK RELEASE CONNECTION DEVICE COMPRISING A FIRST AND SECOND SEPARABLE, COOPERATING, CONNECTING UNITS, A FIRST AND SECOND CYLINDRICAL OUTER TUBULAR MEMBER RIGIDLY SECURED ON SAID FIRST AND SECOND UNITS, RESPECTIVELY, AND EACH HAVING A LONGITUDINAL AXIS, SAID FIRST TUBULAR MEMBER HAVING AN OUTER SURFACE AND A PROJECTING FREE END, AT LEAST ONE HELICAL GROOVE PROVIDED IN THE SAID OUTER SURFACE, AND OPENING AT SAID FREE END OF SAID FIRST TUBULAR MEMBER, RECIPROCALLY ENGAGEABLE MEANS PROVIDED ON SAID FIRST AND SECOND TUBULAR MEMBERS, RESPECTIVELY, FOR PREVENTING RELATIVE ROTATION ABOUT SAID LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND TUBULAR MEMBERS WHEN IN ENGAGED RELATIONSHIP, A SLEEVE ROTATABLY MOUNTED AND HELD AGAINST AXIAL MOVEMENT ON SAID SECOND TUBULAR MEMBER, SAID SLEEVE HAVING A PROJECTING FREE END HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY SMOOTH OUTER SURFACE, AND AN INNER SURFACE ADAPTED TO OVERLIE THE PROJECTING FREE END OF THE SAID FIRST TUBULAR MEMBER, AS MANY CIRCUMFERENTIALLY ARRANGED RADIAL OPENINGS IN SAID PROJECTING FREE END OF SAID SLEEVE AS THERE ARE HELICAL GROOVES IN SAID FIRST TUBULAR MEMBER, A LOCKING MEMBER IN EACH OF SAID OPENINGS, MOVABLE SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE AXIS OF SAID SECOND TUBULAR MEMBER AND ADAPTED TO PROJECT THROUGH SAID OPENING IN ONE DIRECTION ABOVE THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID SLEEVE INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CORRESPONDING HELICAL GROOVE, A LEVER MEMBER ARRANGED IN SAID SLEEVE FOR EACH LOCKING MEMBER, SAID LEVER BEING ROCKINGLY MOUNTED ON SAID SLEEVE ABOUT AN AXIS SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID SECOND TUBULAR MEMBER, FOR MOVEMENT IN A PLANE SUBSTANTIALLY CONTAINING SAID LONGITUDINAL AXIS, AND FURTHER HAVING ONE FRONT END PORTION ENGAGING WITH AN ABUTTING MEMBER ON SAID LOCKING MEMBER, AND A REAR END PROTRUDING ABOVE THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID SLEEVE, A LOCKING RING AXIALLY SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID OUTER FACE OF SAID SLEEVE, RESILIENT MEANS URGING SAID LOCKING RING TOWARD THE FREE END OF SAID SLEEVE, SAID LOCKING RING COMPRISING A FIRST REAR SECTION FITTING ON SAID OUTER SURFACE OF SAID SLEEVE AND ADAPTED TO COOPERATE WITH THE REAR END OF EACH SAID LEVER FOR ROCKING SAID LEVER ABOUT THE AXIS THEREOF WHEN SAID LOCKING RING IS URGED AGAINST THE ACTION OF SAID RESILIENT MEANS, A SECOND SECTION OF SUCH DIAMETER THAT IT MAY ENGAGE OVER EACH LOCKING MEMBER WHEN MOVED TOWARD THE FREE END OF SAID SLEEVE, IN A LOCKING POSITION IN WHICH SAID RING CAUSES SAID LOCKING MEMBER TO PROTRUDE ABOVE THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID SLEEVE INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CORRESPONDING HELICAL GROOVE, AND A THIRD SECTION FLARING OUT FROM SAID SECOND SECTION TO LEAVE SAID LOCKING MEMBER FREE TO RETRACT THROUGH THE CORRESPONDING OPENING AND DISENGAGE FROM THE CORRESPONDING HELICAL GROOVE IN THE SAID FIRST TUBULAR MEMBER, AND SAID FIRST REAR SECTION OF SAID LOCKING RING IS IN COOPERATIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID REAR END OF SAID LEVER, SAID SLEEVE, LOCKING MEMBER, AND HELICAL GROOVE BEING SO INTERRELATED THAT UPON INITIAL AXIAL ENGAGEMENT OF SAID CONNECTING UNITS SAID LOCKING MEMBER IS RECEIVED WITHIN THE OPEN END OF SAID HELICAL GROOVE AND UPON ROTATION OF SAID SLEEVE IN ONE DIRECTION THE LOCKING MEMBER MOVES AXIALLY INWARDLY ALONG SAID GROOVE DRAWING SAID CONNECTING UNITS AXIALLY TOGETHER INTO THE FINAL ASSEMBLED RELATIONSHIP. 